The 2025 NBA Draft Combine has come and gone, as more than 70 NBA Draft hopefuls rolled into Chicago, offered official measurements and testing times, met with reporters and NBA teams and, of course, laced 'em up for some five-on-five scrimmages with other top prospects.
While most players will continue to put themselves out there for NBA teams between now and next month's two-round draft in Brooklyn, a few prospects have just over a week to decide if they want to stay in the draft, or withdraw from the draft by the May 28 deadline, and spend another year in college. It's an annual decision that not only affects the players' own career ambitions, but the aspirations of collegiate teams for the coming season.
And this month, arguably no player has a more high-profile decision to make than Yaxel Lendeborg. The 6-foot-9 forward was a do-it-all star for Alabama-Birmingham last season — 17.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game — and was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 1 player to enter the transfer portal this offseason. He committed to Michigan last month, and cited the Wolverines' patience during the process and his appreciation for Dusty May's coaching at FAU (in UAB's conference) as factors that helped the maize and blue stand out.
But like anyone who has ever shot a basketball, Lendeborg also dreams of playing in the NBA, and as a commonly projected first-round pick, it's realistic that Lendeborg opts to start his NBA career this spring, and never suits up for Michigan.
What do national analysts think of his upcoming decision? Below, we compile the comments several national publications made about Lendeborg's Combine performance, and offer our take on what it means for Lendeborg and Michigan.
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